Devils fail to upset Highlanders

By ED BALDRIDGE

ed.baldridge@newssun.com

AVON PARK -- Although they had several opportunities to pull the upset of the week against Lake Highland Prep, who ranks fourth statewide in Class 2B, the Avon Park Red Devils were just four points shy of making it happen when the whistle blew Friday night at Joe Franza Stadium.

"We had good chances, but it just didn't fall that way," said Avon Park's Head Coach Andy Bonjokian. "That's football."

"We had just a few lapses, and without those we could have beat them," said Alonzo Robertson, Avon Park's leading receiver.

But for a time, it looked like the Red Devils were going to pull it off and make it a really memorable Homecoming.

The Devils took control of the first quarter, with quarterback Teddy Allen using the offensive line to pound out 90 yards in 9 minutes of play which ended with Allen crossing the line from six out for six.

Robert Bieber's PAT was good, making it seven.

Allen ended the night with 171 yards rushing on 28 carries, but he connected just two times to his favorite target, Robertson, out of 12 attempts for 65 yards and three interceptions.

The Highlanders only need 22 seconds to return the favor, but Avon Park's Alonzo Robertson blocked the point after, leaving the Devils out front going into the second quarter.

The Devils shut down the inside run, forcing the Highlanders to swing wide on the options and stringing the plays out where the Big Red defense could use speed to contain the prep school's solid offense.

With just six minutes left in the half, the Devils held Lake Highland fourteen yards out, and forced them to settle for a field goal instead of a touchdown.

Avon Park was moving steadily towards another six when Highlander Ty Law picked off an Allen throw, which set the stage for an incredible 82-yard run by Zack McCarrell.

McCarrell was pulled down short of the end zone, and left the game with an injury after that, but was close enough to make it an easy push for the Highlander offensive line to put Bobby Borcky through on the quarterback sneak.

Avon Park decided to take a knee with 50 seconds left on the clock, and left the field behind 16-7 at the half.

Allen came out strong after the break, and used a punt fake to run one in from 47 yards out five minutes into the second half.

A little confusion on the PAT allowed Highland to block Bieber's attempt, leaving the score at 16-13 Highlanders.

A clock eating drive by Highland Prep put workhouse BJ Simpson into the zone from five yards and the successful PAT stretched their lead out to 23-13.

Allen responded in the fourth from 16 yards for six more, but Bieber's PAT was again blocked leaving the score at 23-19 Highlands.

Robertson and Allen, this time on defense, came up big by sacking McCarrell on third and short, forcing the punt with six minutes left in the fourth - plenty of time for a Devil score.

Even though Allen converted a fourth and nine to a first and ten with two minutes left, Law again shut down the Devil drive with a pick at the 33-yard line.

Simpson would pad his stats another 23 yards before the Highlanders decided to take a knee with just over a minute left in the game leaving it at 23-19 Highland Prep.

Simpson racked up 102 yards on 16 carries, becoming the lead back after McCarrel left the game.

"We played hard," said Robertson after the game. "We never gave up, and showed that we have improved a lot since the start of the year. Teddy had a great game."

"Allen is a great kid, and he will be playing on Saturday's somewhere next year," Bonjokian said. "If we keep giving this kind of effort, the wins will come."

The Red Devils take the road for the next two weeks, facing Tampa Catholic and Sebring to wrap up the regular season.